BY Business Editor
MBABANE– The Minister of Agriculture Mandla Tshawuka has advocated for the inclusion of more women and youth in agribusiness
Tshawuka was speaking during the 2023 Woman Farmer of the Year competition prize presentation ceremony.
This was the same ceremony where Makhosazana Mngomezulu from Shewula in the Lubombo region walked away with the first prize under the Youth category while Gugu Patricia Mndzebele Shongwe from Lwandle in the Manzini region is the Adult category overall winner.
Shongwe was awarded with prizes worth E142,239, at an awards ceremony graced by the newly sworn-in Minister of Agriculture, Mandla Tshawuke, at the Riders Ranch at Sidvokodvo today. The prizes received by the Lwandle-based Woman Farmer of the Year included a mini tractor, water tanks, seeds, feed, and pesticide equipment, to name a few.
Shongwe came out as most exceptional out of 285 applications received for the 2023 Woman Farmer of the Year Competition (WOFACO). Shongwe has a farm at Lwandle in Manzini which grows vegetables, chickens, goats, maize, indigenous chickens, as well as fruit trees.
The Minister said it was imperative that women and youth continue to access such opportunities. He said the future of the agricultural sector heavily relies on empowering and nurturing this promising generation through such initiatives.
“We believe in fostering an inclusive environment where everyone has an equal chance at realizing their potential,” added the Minister.
Tshawuka also mentioned that the agribusiness sector requires local farmers to work hand in hand to substantiate both the local and international markets.
Tshawuke further thanked King and Country, saying the His Majesty King Mswati III has given him a heavy Ministry to head but was thankful that it is a ministry that is his livelihood, declaring that he was a farmer by choice.
Woman Farmer of the Year participate Nokuthula Mkhabela added that one of their challenges was access to financial support. She said their business was mostly affected by the high cost of farming inputs.
“We are mostly affected by the lack of financial support, we urge the Minister to avail more financial opportunities for farmers so that we can able to rub our businesses smoothly,” she said.
Mkhabela also added that the market was volatile as demand has exceeded supply for most commodities. She mentioned that this was an opportunity for local farmers to tap into the market.
